Early voting: Quick, easy, no excuses

Published: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 at 6:36 p.m.

Tired of all the punditry about who won the presidential debate or who will win the Nov. 6 election? Itís your turn to cast the only ballot that really matters ó your own. Early voting begins today and runs through Nov. 3, the Saturday before Election Day.

In Henderson County, voters can cast ballots from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Flat Rock Village Hall, 110 Village Center Drive; Fletcher Library, 120 Library Road; and Etowah Library, 101 Brickyard Road. Residents also can vote at the Board of Elections Office at 75 E. Central St. in Hendersonville from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3. For more information, visit or call the Board of Elections at 697-4970.

Transylvania and Polk counties are also offering early voting this year on similar schedules. In Transylvania County, early voting also begins today and ends Nov. 3 at the old library building at 101 S. Broad Street, Brevard. Polling hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit www.transylvaniaelections.org or call 884-3114.

Early voting begins today in Polk County at three locations: the Polk County Board of Elections office in Columbus between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and at the Mill Spring Fire Department and the Green Creek Family Life Center from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. All three sites will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3. For more information, call the Polk County Board of Elections at 828-894-8181.

While North Carolina went for Barack Obama four years ago and is still considered a battleground state, October polling shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leading the state by an average of 4.7 points, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Whether that will change after Monday nightís third and final debate remains to be seen.

With all the focus on the tight presidential race, voters should not lose sight of the other races that deserve their attention. In addition to choosing between Obama, Romney and Libertarian contender and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, voters will pick candidates from U.S. Congress to local school boards.

In the 11th Congressional District race, voters will choose between Democrat Hayden Rogers of Brasstown, a small-business owner and former chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, and Republican Mark Meadows, a Cashiers Realtor. Meadows is favored to win the seat after Republicans, who took control of the General Assembly two years ago, redrew the districtís boundaries to favor the GOP.

The contest for N.C. governor is a three-way race between Democrat Walter Dalton, Republican Pat McCrory and Libertarian Barbara Howe. McCrory is favored to win, according to polling compiled by RealClearPolitics.com. The statewide ballot includes races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and a number of judicial races.

Early voting is a convenient way to avoid lines at polling places on Election Day. We hope many voters will take advantage of this great opportunity to make their voices are heard in this momentous election.

<p>Tired of all the punditry about who won the presidential debate or who will win the Nov. 6 election? It’s your turn to cast the only ballot that really matters  your own. Early voting begins today and runs through Nov. 3, the Saturday before Election Day.</p><p>In Henderson County, voters can cast ballots from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Flat Rock Village Hall, 110 Village Center Drive; Fletcher Library, 120 Library Road; and Etowah Library, 101 Brickyard Road. Residents also can vote at the Board of Elections Office at 75 E. Central St. in Hendersonville from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3. For more information, visit or call the Board of Elections at 697-4970.</p><p>Transylvania and Polk counties are also offering early voting this year on similar schedules. In Transylvania County, early voting also begins today and ends Nov. 3 at the old library building at 101 S. Broad Street, Brevard. Polling hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit www.transylvaniaelections.org or call 884-3114.</p><p>Early voting begins today in Polk County at three locations: the Polk County Board of Elections office in Columbus between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; and at the Mill Spring Fire Department and the Green Creek Family Life Center from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. All three sites will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 3. For more information, call the Polk County Board of Elections at 828-894-8181.</p><p>While North Carolina went for Barack Obama four years ago and is still considered a battleground state, October polling shows former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leading the state by an average of 4.7 points, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Whether that will change after Monday night’s third and final debate remains to be seen.</p><p>With all the focus on the tight presidential race, voters should not lose sight of the other races that deserve their attention. In addition to choosing between Obama, Romney and Libertarian contender and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, voters will pick candidates from U.S. Congress to local school boards.</p><p>In the 11th Congressional District race, voters will choose between Democrat Hayden Rogers of Brasstown, a small-business owner and former chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler, and Republican Mark Meadows, a Cashiers Realtor. Meadows is favored to win the seat after Republicans, who took control of the General Assembly two years ago, redrew the district’s boundaries to favor the GOP.</p><p>The contest for N.C. governor is a three-way race between Democrat Walter Dalton, Republican Pat McCrory and Libertarian Barbara Howe. McCrory is favored to win, according to polling compiled by RealClearPolitics.com. The statewide ballot includes races for lieutenant governor, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and a number of judicial races.</p><p>Early voting is a convenient way to avoid lines at polling places on Election Day. We hope many voters will take advantage of this great opportunity to make their voices are heard in this momentous election.</p>